Not everyone knows what they want to do professionally from the moment they’re a child. Even those with a college diploma can sometimes have second thoughts. Nursing is one of those career paths that invites people from all walks of life — from students with a clear idea of where they want to go in the healthcare field to seasoned souls looking for a change. But, how do you know if a career in nursing is right for you? What are the benefits?
What is nursing?
Nursing is a profession in the healthcare and medical field. You must obtain a certain level of education and training in the nursing profession before becoming a nurse, but how much training you need depends on the type of career you’re pursuing. There are different types of nurses depending on the training and certifications achieved. The most common include:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSNs)
- Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
- Registered nurses (RNs)
- Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs)
Is a career in nursing right for you?
Nursing isn’t the right profession for everyone. It takes a certain set of skills to thrive in the nursing environment. For some, caring for others is particularly draining. The career also requires learning how to recognize various diseases and how to treat them. But, the nursing profession is incredibly rewarding as well. You get to see the direct impact that you have on a patient. If you love caring for others, are looking for career flexibility, and thrive off of a fast-paced environment, then nursing may be the right career for you.
5 Benefits of a Career in Nursing
1. Career Flexibility
Nurses can virtually pick their own hours. That means that you can work as much or as little as you want to — full-time, part-time, or weekends only. Regardless if you work in a hospital or in a patient’s home as a home health care nurse, you’ll be able to choose whether you work days, nights, three 12-hour shifts, or whatever works for your schedule. And, you don’t have to stick to the same schedule. If you need to make a change and work nights instead of day shifts, you can work with your employer to get a shift that matches your needs.
2. Position Mobility
One of the many perks of nursing is that you’ll never feel like you’re stuck in a dead-end job. As you gain experience, further your education and training, or change fields, you can try new nursing positions. There are tons of nursing jobs available — from pediatric nursing to school nursing. And, each field has its own responsibilities and shifts available. If you’re burnt out on working with patients, you can even move to a more administrative position.
3. Choose Your Pace
It may come as a surprise, but not every nursing position is fast-paced. Hospitals aren’t the only environment where you can work directly with patients. So, if you don’t do well in high-stress situations, nursing can still be a great career option. Different positions offer different paces. You just have to find the right nursing path for you.
4. Competitive Pay
Whether you work in nursing full-time or pick up shifts here and there, you’ll be offered a good, competitive salary based on your skills and experience. In some cases, you may even be offered bonuses for positions or to travel. This can make nursing a desirable field — even if the boost in pay is temporary, such as in emergency or pandemic situations. And, some employers offer additional benefits to competitive pay. At Care Options for Kids, we offer our nurses PTO, medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401K, and more.
5. Job Security
If you’ve looked into a career in nursing, then you know that there is a national nursing shortage. Due to an aging population, there are more people requiring medical and health care than there are nurses available to provide it. Add in any pandemic or national disaster, and it’s easy to see why nurses have solid job security.
That being said, you are responsible for your patient’s wellbeing. So, there is a basic level of care that you’ll need to provide if you’re working with patients. But, if you don’t like the nursing environment you’re in, or if you’d rather work with certain patients — such as children or aging adults — then you’ll have virtually no problem finding a new position when you’re ready.
Contact Care Options for Kids for Pediatric Nursing Jobs
Are you looking to become a pediatric nurse? Care Options for Kids can help. We are currently looking for compassionate and nurturing Pediatric Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Pediatric Registered Nurses (RNs) in various locations. Care Options for Kids specializes in one-on-one hourly pediatric care in the home. We offer PTO, medical, dental and vision benefits, flexible schedules, and more.
If you or a loved one are considering a career in pediatric nursing, contact Care Options for Kids. Apply online or call today at (888) 592-5855.
